Lowering CPU Temp

[bdmst16]

Hi all, I haven't started OC'ing yet, but first I would like some advice on how to lower my CPU temp and I figured that the OC community would have the best cooling advice. Speedfan shows a constant 45C with a CoolMaster HC-003 on it. The system temp is around 34C with three fans going. Without going to watercooling, anything else I can do to lower the temp? Thanks for any help.

[Met-AL]

Make sure you have good case ventilation. A CPU cooler can only cool well if the air temp it is cooling with isn't hot.

I have a 1.3 TBIRD OCed to 1.53. That has to be one of the hotest CPU's to begin without overclocking it. To keep it cool, I have one fan blowing in on the lower front and one blowing out on the back above the CPU socket. The power supply unit has a fan, and also I installed a little "squirel cage" blower (not fan) in a slot just below the HSF on my GeForce2 to try to take that hot air directly out.

One thing to remember, don't get negative pressure in your case. This has a possibility to cause the PSU fan to not be able to pull air throught the PSU and making a dead air space. Try to ensure your intake fan is pushing a little more than the exhaust fans. This won't be much of a problem if your case has vents on the sides or something, but an largely airtight case with negative pressure may have cooling problems.

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/extern/762236.jpg

[hoodedrat]

if you're not using artic silver, i'd suggest putting some of that on there, and try a software cooler of somesort

[wufam007]

rounding your IDE cables should help with you airflow or buying some prerounded ones will work. I'm not sure how much this actually helps though. If you use Arctic Silver on your heatsink just make sure you get rid of the old residue good with nailpolish remover or alcohol. Make sure you apply the AS by the directions on their website, or you could end up with a higher temp if you do it wrong. good luck :t

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Get a couple 80milly case fans.. cut some blow holes on a side panel directly over the CPU/HSF and have them blowing cool air on em non stop... might wanna buy dust filters and quiet fans though :)

Also you could try software cooling such as Vcool and CPU Idle although its only really effective on win9x/ME

--Jakk:t

[strat1]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
Also you could try software cooling such as Vcool and CPU Idle although its only really effective on win9x/ME
--Jakk:t
All great ideas on the fans!

FYI, the PC Cooler software that came with my MSI board drops my temps over 10C while Idling with the Cooling software on! I have XP PRO and that line about only working on ME/98 is not true! I Idle at 29C cpu temp with my XP2000 and Volcano 9
Like the new Avatar -- She is a cutie!

[Bigjakkstaffa]

...she is a he :eek:

..Its marilyn Manson :p

..As for CPUIdle software.. the one you got with the board is prolly Mobo specific.. the majority of cooling software such as Vcool is in my experience useless in my experience on 2k/Xp due to their idle routine... still never hurts to try :)

--Jakk:t

[strat1]

your right-- it is put out by MSI!

[RamonGTP]

Yep, its all about good airflow, you've already got on of the best, if not the best HSF for it, so no need to do anything with that. Ambient temps make a HUGE difference. My computer sits next to a window, and it was pretty cold here last night, my CPU temps got as low as 33C but averaged around 38C Keep in mind thats at full load, and a XP1700+ processor overclocked to 1900+ speeds. However, on HOT days, I regularly see these temps go into the high 50's and even low 60's.

-Ramon

[kornapus]

is a 80 mm fan good went its attached to the heatsink. because i got an 80 mm fan on the heatsink and it not even loud i thought it was going to be like a tornado in there but i can even hear it. So what im asking are 80 mm fans only good as a case fan??

[strat1]

Originally posted by kornapus
is a 80 mm fan good went its attached to the heatsink. because i got an 80 mm fan on the heatsink and it not even loud i thought it was going to be like a tornado in there but i can even hear it. So what im asking are 80 mm fans only good as a case fan??
I have
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on my HS
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on the back as an exhaust
1 80 mm as blowhole on top- Intake
1 92 MM fan in front as intake

80's work great if they more enough air- depends on speed!

There are fast and Slow 80's- i have one 80mm, that barely moves any air at all! I am going to replace it this week- but the smart fan 2- Moves a TON of AIR--- Great Fan!

[Bigjakkstaffa]

If y0u can get a HS with large size fan then go for it.. i wouldnt advise strapping an 80milly to a standard size HSF though... if you cant get a large size HSF just mount some 80millies on case panels :)

--Jakk:t

[Optimus Prime]

Originally posted by strat1

I have
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on my HS
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on the back as an exhaust
1 80 mm as blowhole on top- Intake
1 92 MM fan in front as intake

80's work great if they more enough air- depends on speed!

There are fast and Slow 80's- i have one 80mm, that barely moves any air at all! I am going to replace it this week- but the smart fan 2- Moves a TON of AIR--- Great Fan!

...and he has to put it inside an air-tight container because of the amount of noise it makes :D

[RamonGTP]

Originally posted by strat1

I have
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on my HS
1 80 mm Smart Fan 2 on the back as an exhaust
1 80 mm as blowhole on top- Intake
1 92 MM fan in front as intake

80's work great if they more enough air- depends on speed!

There are fast and Slow 80's- i have one 80mm, that barely moves any air at all! I am going to replace it this week- but the smart fan 2- Moves a TON of AIR--- Great Fan!

Theoretically the 80mm fan you have on top would be more efficient if you had it setup as an exhaust fan since all the hot air will rise up to the top of the case. I have a similar setup with the difference being that its an exhaust fan, and there is a ton of hot air being blown out from it. The only other exhaust fan I have thats hotter is the one on the PSU.

-Ramon

[strat1]

Originally posted by RamonGTP
Theoretically the 80mm fan you have on top would be more efficient if you had it setup as an exhaust fan since all the hot air will rise up to the top of the case. I have a similar setup with the difference being that its an exhaust fan, and there is a ton of hot air being blown out from it. The only other exhaust fan I have thats hotter is the one on the PSU.-Ramon

I will when I get the new 92 MM fan this week- The cheap 80 mm fan I have there is not able to suck any air out of the case when the 80 mm Smart fan in the back is on full bore- It is too powerful! Even with the front intake 92 MM fan- the blowhole was not able to move air- I could light a match a watch the smoke get sucked past the blowhole and into the case. Right now the case has great temps- I may switch around fans and do it right when I get the new fan!

[strat1]

Originally posted by Optimus Prime
...and he has to put it inside an air-tight container because of the amount of noise it makes :D
SO TRUE-- that baby hums when she is at full bore-

Most of the noise comes from the Smart fans when going at 5275 RPMs.
But when I finally install the probes and let the smart fans work as designed -- it will be quiet! The case is under my desk with some external ducting to divert hot air and Noise -works like a camel in the desert- Slick as $h^t:eek:
When I get the Arctic Silver 3 flowing on my AMD- my apartment is going to look like Mr. Freezes home in Batman! I am going to need to chip away the ice to get at my DVD/Burner! :p

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Its a good idea to regularly lube your fans to keep the noise down a lil bit, theres a guide at www.tweak3d.net if memory serves :)

--Jakk:t

[ANMAN]

Man i got 4, 60 mm VANTEC(the super stealth B2 bomber ones) fans for my new Coolermaster ACTS super huge chunck-o-iron serverlike case and it's very loud. I like the whispery buzz (of a new dell) instead of the noisey drone, i can't imagine having like a bunch of 80+mm fans buzzing away!